Bennie Thompson

We have got challenges right now in protecting our people, our infrastructure, and also making the point to Congress that we need more investment here in this region.

The reality is that Iran is much weaker and more isolated now than when President Barack Obama took office.

I am very comfortable that under the Obama administration we have taken some very, very bad people out.

Let me say from the beginning that while there might have been some acts perpetrated before the last 3 years of this administration, it might have been characterized, from a response standpoint, as weak.

Some have criticized the sanctions we placed on Iran as too soft, and have suggested taking actions that would lead us on a path to escalation.

We must be careful to stick to the facts. We must not overstate, nor overreact to the threat we currently face from Iran.

I commend the work of our intelligence and law enforcement communities, and look forward to seeing justice served in the case.

I have been here pre-Katrina, post-Katrina, and I have seen a different FEMA.

A compassionate Congress would hear the cries of those who have lost everything and provide help.

Five years after the passage of that legislation, I think we can all agree that FEMA's implementation of the legislation is a mixed bag.

A perfect storm is a popular expression. It describes an event where isolated conditions merge to create a radically worsening situation.

Whatever you want to say, a cut is a cut.

I commend both Generals McCaffrey and Scales for taking on this challenge.

These numbers show a clear distinction between political rhetoric and proven facts.

So none of the work--none of the hosting or anything will be done out of the----

Can you provide the committee with a copy of that task order?

While I embrace technological progress, I also know that every new technology presents great possibilities as well as great challenges.

I can assure you from our side of this committee, we will do just that.

As you know, cyber is an emerging homeland security threat that warrants timely bipartisan action from Congress.

So that is still a concern?

Ironically, the last real amnesty was championed by President Ronald Reagan, a hero to many of my Republican colleagues.

As I said before, Madam Chairwoman, our Republican colleagues tend to talk tough when it comes to homeland security and immigration enforcement, but rarely do they put their money where their mouth is.

Unless and until Congress appropriates sufficient funds for ICE to apprehend and remove every undocumented alien in the country we should support the agency's efforts to focus its limited resources on removing those undocumented aliens who…

I find it curious that a practical, risk-based approach to removal of undocumented aliens would be characterized by my friends across the aisle as administrative amnesty.

I hope that Mr. Jackson and Ms. Duke will share with this committee the difficulties they found in their attempts at reform.